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Pakhi came out of the bathroom after changing her clothes. The room is fully cleaned now. She looked at Aryan who was sleeping in an uncomfortable position on the bed.
When she was cleaning the room, he was silent and soon drifted into his dreamland. She glanced at his injured hand.
Sigh left her mouth and she walked out of the room. She prepared an antiseptic paste of haldi, and poured water in a separate bowl then came back to the bedroom. She put the bowl on the nightstand and went to the almirah.
Opening it, she searched for cotton cloth and eventually found it. She tore the cloth in two parts and walked back to the bed.
She bit her lower lip and scratched her jaw slightly before putting her knees on the bed and holding him by shoulders.
It was difficult to move him. The man is huge and muscular. However, somehow she did the work and took a breath of relief when he did not wake up.
The blood has dried on his palm. There's a deep cut on his palm. She could have left him on his condition but she is not like them. It would be better if she quickly treats his hand and sleeps before he wakes up.
She dipped a cloth in water and cleaned blood from his hand. She kept her movement gentle and slow but a mere touch on his cut, made him hiss in pain and open his eyes.
" Who-"
He put his head back as he saw her. Pakhi tucked the strand of her hair behind the ear nervously and said, " uhm your hand...It needs to be treated otherwise you'll be infected."
He blinked his eyes and fixed his gaze on her face. She hurriedly broke eye contact and continued cleaning blood from his hand.
" Why are you doing this now?"
She frowned and a small smile spread on his lips which reflected his misery.
" Meaning?"
She asked and put the dirty cloth in the water and brought the bowl of antiseptic paste.
" Abhi to Marham laga rahi ho phir kal bologi ki kitna nafrat karti ho mujhse."
( Right now you are applying ointment, tomorrow you will say how much you hate me.)
She took a few moments to process his words before collecting paste in her first two fingers and saying,
" I can't leave your hand bleeding like this."
" Why?"
He asked, keeping his voice low and calm. Stinging pain crashed him as she applied paste on his wound.
" Just...I can't," she replied.
" Dheere karo. Jal raha hai," he said.
( Be gentle. It's burning.)
" Oh, sorry."
She apologised and took extra care this time.
" I was lying," he added.
She started him with a look as if he had gone crazy. Ignoring him, she applied paste all over his wound and wrapped the clean cotton cloth around his hand then tied both the ends and got down from the bed.
He sat up and watched her going out of the room with both the bowls. He sighed softly and removed his shirt and belt. He threw it somewhere on the couch then stretched his arms.
His gaze landed on the photo frame of him and Shruti. Regret rushed down his spine, realising he is responsible for ruining his sister's life. This guilt will eat him up from within. The house will feel so empty without Shruti.
What if he behaves badly with her? What if he snatched his dear sister's happiness?
On one hand he is worried, on the other hand he knows that his sister is no less than anyone else. She will definitely ruin Jaidev's life. But, he can't sit with hands on hands just because of this reason.
He needs to do something to pull her out of that house. Pakhi is loved by everyone here but Shruti wouldn't be. Jaydev's family would not accept her anyhow and behave wrong with her.
Trance of his thoughts broke when he heard the sounds of her anklets. He turned his eyes at her and she switched off the lights.
She climbed up on the bed and lay on her side, pulling the duvet over her body. Pakhi saw him still sitting there and staring at his sister's frame.
" Suniye," she called him and he turned his head behind instantly.
( Listen,)
" Hm?"
He must be reassuring himself that he did not hear wrong. She sat up and said,
" I know you are angry about what my brother did but my Nani will take care of Di. She is not like you all."
He nodded but frowned the very next second and asked, " what do you mean by you all?"
" You, Bhai-"
" Don't put me in his category," he said with an infuriated voice.
" You two are same-"
" We are not."
" But you, too, married me force-"
" I am not like that idiot," he disagreed.
Pakhi scoffed and lay back on the bed. She turned her back at him and murmured under her breath,
" When I speak he won't listen and when I don't speak he asks why don't I speak. Hypocritical man."
Aryan ruffled his hair and moved towards her. He tapped on her shoulder and said,
" Acha bolo. Chup rahunga ab."
( Okay speak. I will keep quiet now.)
" I don't want to," she closed her eyes angrily.
" Are, I won't say a word. I promise."
She opened her eyes and turned on her back.
" I don't have anything to say," she said.
He chewed the inside of his lower lip and asked, " So can I speak?"
She nodded and he cleared his throat before saying,
" Your stupid brother is a fucking idiot-"
" Hey!"
She whined and hit his knee, causing him to laugh after seeing her irritated reaction.
" Why do you always curse my brother in front of me? Do it alone."
" He deserves it," Aryan replied and lay down, pulling the duvet over himself.
He let out a deep exhale and she faced him, placing her palm under her cheek.
" Have you ever wondered why my brother hates you?"
He turned his head at her and she continued,
" When you betrayed him, he was left broken. He tried many times to talk to you but couldn't gather courage. Dead body of his girlfriend was disturbing him. He had not yet come out of her grief. He said, he will never forgive you for ruining his life. When you married me, he started finding ways to make you feel the same you made him feel."
He licked his lower lip and faced her as well.
" Do you know the full story?"
Aryan asked and she nodded, " you cheated on him with his girlfriend. Later, she did suicide because of you."
A smile formed on his lips and he forwarded his hand at her then tucked the loose strands of her hair behind the ear.
" This is the story your brother told you and it's not complete. Do you know my side?"
She frowned, " no."
He put his palm on her cheek and asked, " then how can you conclude that I was behind his girlfriend's death and I cheated on him."
" That's what..Bhai believed and told me that he got evidence."
" What if I say that evidence is not real?"
She blinked her eyes, " are they?"
He hummed, " I could prove but he did not hear a single word of me. He has always been an aggressive man and due to his hot temper, he sometimes makes decisions he shouldn't."
" Did my brother lie?"
She raised her eyebrows slightly.
" No. He was misled."
She chewed the corner of her lower lip then asked after a pause of 10 seconds, " can you still prove it to him?"
He shook his head, " I do not plan to. I tried as much as I could 5 years ago. It's not like Jay- your brother will listen to me anymore. He's blind by anger and misunderstandings."
" What if I talk to him and he agrees?"
He shook his head, " I won't, especially after what he did to my sister."
" You did the same to me."
" God, Pakhi!"
He muttered in defeated voice and continued,
" How many times I should tell you that I loved you for so long."
" But that doesn't mean you'll marry me on gunpoint-"
" I will," he cut her off in the middle.
" If needed, I will do this again and again. If anyone tries to separate you from me, I will remove him from your life."
His words were filled with possessiveness which scared the girl. His eyes always depict different emotions whenever he speaks about living forever with her.
" This... your love is so.. I feel scared."
She fluttered her eyelashes down and he shifted close to her.
" Aadat daal lo. Main aisa hi hoon. Mera pyar aisa hi hai."
( Used to this. I am like this only. This is how I love.)
She bit the inside of her lower lip and grabbed his wrist of hand which was placed on her cheek.
" You.. are scary," she barely sounded audible to him. He gulped down his saliva and moved his hand down from her cheek only to wrap the same hand around her waist.
She was taken back when he pulled her close to his chest by applying pressure on her waist. Even his arm around her waist felt possessive.
" Kabhi dhyaan se samjho meri baat. Baitho mere sath. Jaano mujhe. Sach keh raha hu, sab dar door ho jayega."
( Sometimes, try to understand what I am saying carefully. Sit with me. Know me. I am telling you the truth. All your fears will go away.)
She sighed softly, " let me..go."
" No," he replied and put her head on his chest. She felt her heart pumping inside her chest. She got all timid suddenly. His embrace felt terrifying at the same time, she was aware of the comfort she was receiving.
The feelings were confusing and so near to her. She closed her eyes and soon drifted into her dreamland along with him.
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Shruti's gaze fell on Jaydev who was very peacefully sleeping on his stomach. His head was facing the window side. How can he sleep after creating ruckus in two families? After marrying her.
Jaydev's eyebrows slightly creaked together hearing sounds of her footsteps but he made no move.
She put the glass of milk on the table in front of the couch and grabbed the jar of water. Jaydev opened his eyes and lay on his back.
" What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you take the storage-"
He startled, his mouth was shut when she, once again, threw water at him. This time the quantity was more.
" What the fuck!"
He sat up immediately. His clothes and bedsheet both go drenched.
" How can you sleep, dear husband? Isn't it our wedding night?"
He clenched his jaw while removing his shirt and got up from the bed. She put the jar back on the table.
" See, I even brought milk for you-"
She had to stop speaking when he shut her mouth by throwing his shirt at her face. She fisted her hand and gulped down her anger.
" Drink yourself, stupid."
He scoffed at her and removed the bedsheet. The mattress has soaked the water but not much so it won't be difficult for him to sleep.
" Are aise kyu? Aap ke liye laaye hum doodh, Pati dev."
( How can I? I have brought milk for you, husband.)
Her voice and words irritated him instantly. He faced her and pointed at the door.
" Get out!"
She locked her hands behind her back and smiled over sweetly.
" Aise kaise ji. Shaadi Kari hai aapne mujhse."
( How can I? You have married me.)
She could notice him clenching his jaw which depicted that she was succeeding in her plan.
" I will fucking throw you out of my house. Don't irritate me."
He grabbed another bedsheet and spread it evenly on the mattress. He took his trouser from almirah and went to the bathroom to change his clothes.
Shruti rolled her eyes and grabbed the glass of milk. She put it on the nightstand and climbed up on the bed. She freed her hair from clutcher and put it, too, on the nightstand.
" Wedding night, my foot! I will pull his hair."
She found herself extremely uncomfortable in the suit she's wearing but as she has nothing with her tonight, so she'll have to manage with this only.
" One minute," he came out wearing his white trousers and same colour vest.
" Get down from bed."
She raised her eyebrows, " is your name written on it? I will sleep here. If you have a problem, you have so much space on the floor to sleep."
She leaned her back on the bed headpost.
" Get. Down. You are not allowed in my room, bed is a far topic."
She looked away from his face arrogantly, " I won't. You made me your wife with great passion? Suffer now."
He chuckled sarcastically and walked toward the bed.
" I planned to avoid you for 6 months but I feel like you don't want it."
He climbed up on the bed from the other side.
" You are absolutely correct, Mr. Chaudhary. I have no intention to spend 6 months smoothly. The time you put vermillion on my head, I made up my mind to make your life hell."
She spat with pure hatred in voice. He raised his eyebrows and looked up and down at her.
" What harm will you do to me? Look at yourself first."
" Beautiful, right?"
He passed her judgemental look and grabbed a pillow which was behind her.
" Not get out of my bed. I have a habit of throwing my legs."
" Cool! We'll fight the whole night," she clapped once with enthusiasm but soon dropped her smile when he said.
" Are you letting go of my bed?"
" No," she gave a straight reply.
" Don't provoke me to throw you out of the room."
" Dare to do that. I won't let you sleep peacefully the whole night."
Jaydev pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled heavily.
" Fucking get down from my bed, Shruti."
" I won't."
Anger rushed down to his spine hearing her answer.
" I-"
Shruti interrupted him in the middle by suddenly pushing him back. He half lay on the bed and she pointed her finger at him then continued,
" Shut your stupid mouth. I won't leave this bed nor this room. If you can't bear my presence, you are free to leave."
Jaydev's eyes darkened and he held her wrist before pushing her on the bed and hovering over her.
She widened her eyes and he refrained her from moving much by clasping her wrists with both hands and raised them above her head.
He cupped her jaw with her other hand and uttered,
" Don't fucking irritate me, Shruti. Don't provoke me to do things I will regret later."
She raised her eyebrows, " so you do regret? I thought that's just an emotion which humans feel."
His grip tightened on her wrist at her harsh and rude tone.
" It won't take me many days to shut this stupid mouth of yours. Have mercy on yourself and keep your freaking words to yourself."
She curled her fingers and dug her nails against his knuckles. He made a face and quickly left her hands.
" Are you mad?"
He got away from her.
" If you touch me once again like that, I will claw out your eyes."
He rolled his eyes, " Jangli janwar ho na isliye."
( Because you are a wild animal.)
" Aur tum kya ho? Darinde? Gandi naali ke keede? bandar?"
( And what are you? Beast? Nasty sewer worms? Monkey?)
She cursed him and sat up.
" I have never seen a girl so idiot like you," he lay on the bed after passing a good glare at her.
" You can see now. I am in front of your eyes for 6 months."
She grabbed the glass of milk from the nightstand and he glanced at it before saying.
" Didn't you bring it for me?"
She blew air in the milk to cool it down then said, " mat maari gayi hai meri?"
( Have I lost my mind?)
He ignored her and grabbed the duvet before putting it on himself.
" Don't snore otherwise I will kick you out of the bed and don't come near me," he said.
" Kyu? Sambhal nahi paoge khud ko?"
( Why? Won't you be able to control yourself?)
He faced his back at her.
" Shakal dekhi hai apni?"
( Have you seen your face?)
" Tumse to laakh Guna Jada achi hai."
( Thousand times better than yours.)
Shruti replied and took a sip of her milk. She glanced at him and smirked before deliberately making a slurp sound while taking sips from the milk.
It could stop him for a minute only and he couldn't tolerate it anymore.
" Shut the hell up!"
His voice raised and he turned to her. She blinked innocently at him.
" Do you have any problems? You can go out."
He rubbed his face before pulling the duvet up to his face. Shruti rolled her eyes and decided not to mess with him anymore. She saved the rest of the drama for tomorrow.
She drank the milk and put the empty glass on the night. She lay on the bed and faced her back at him.
Sigh left her mouth and she put her palm under her cheek. Tears instantly gathered in her eyes, recalling some previous moments. The marriage, the meeting with her family and encounter with his family.
Everything played in her mind like a fast forward movie. Her father's face flashed before her eyes. He looked disappointed and so defeated. Her brother seemed guilty and helpless. Her mother knew no way to control herself.
While, he enjoyed everything like a heartless man.
She wiped her tears and closed her eyes slowly. She is determined to make him regret every single decision to marry her. These 6 months will be nothing but hell for him. She'll snatch his peace for sure.
While cursing him a thousand times, she drifted into her dreamland. Jaydev moved the duvet down from his face and looked at her.
He raised his upper body a little by taking support of his elbow and held her arm and turned her on her back. Due to the air conditioner, her body seemed cold.
He removed the duvet from his body and covered her with it. She instantly sought comfort and pulled the duvet up to her chest.
She hasn't changed at all. She is the same as she was before. Fierce, combative, always ready to kill. He remembers how she used to carry the entire house on her head in anger. She is a pampered daughter, supported by her father the most.
He sighed softly and lay back in his place. He thought that the 6 months would pass peacefully but now he feels that this girl would ruin his life by pulling so many childish tactics.
Guess, he'll bear this woman for his sister. Once he gets Pakhi back, he'll let her go.
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Chapter 13, 14 and 15 are in scrollstack ( early access)
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